Beit Sahour's Women Club

Beit Sahour Women’s Club was founded in 1992 by an active group of women from the town and was registered as NGO with the Ministry of Youth on December 9, 1995. Currently, the general assembly consists of 154 women and the board seats 9 members. The elected board is responsible for all activities and programs. The center mission is identified as a medium of expansion in service of women and creating a space where they can get together to discuss their needs, plan and execute activities and programs that serve their issues. The center provides a secure place of 100 square meters for women and is used as a meeting place, for educational workshops of current issues for women in relation to the present political realities, and a place for fitness and aerobics for many young women, housewives and older women. Over the years, the club responded to the social, cultural and fitness needs of the members in particular, and for lower income housewives especially in fitness classes. The club noticed from the beginning that lower income women are unable to join private fitness classes due to the high cost and inaccessibility, since most of these services providing places need a private car to reach. Fitness and aerobics classes were highly requested by the target group, it was the most successful activity of the club and hundreds of women benefit from this activity. 20 women attend the aerobic classes three times a week, one hour for each session. A qualified board member is leading the classes. Classes are on going all year and the demand is ever increasing since a couple of years. This demand is surely because of low fees and the good name of the club and the aerobic classes. Financial resources of the club are rather limited and the only income is coming from membership fees, the aerobics classes and some fundraising events, like collective breakfasts, Bingo and others. From this income, the club is running its activities. Within its mission, the club will keep women of low-income families, give them the chance to practice fitness classes, find a place where they can get together and promote their awareness for the need of exercising as a mean of a healthy body, good self-image and rest from daily routine. The rational behind this mission is the club board’s belief that women with high self-esteem and knowledge of health issues are better performers of their role in their families and community.